Illustration of various whole grains including oats, rice, rye, wheat, and barley, with a Vermont Harvest of the Month label and the text 'Whole Grains' at the bottom.

Whole Grains

​A grain is the edible seed inside a cereal crop. These grains are comprised of four parts: the husk, the bran, the endosperm and the germ. The husk is inedible and has to be removed before it can be consumed. The bran is a thick inner covering that is made up of several layers. The germ is the part of the grain that produces the sprout for a new plant to grow, and the endosperm is the soft inner part of the grain that provides nourishment for the seed after it is germinated. A whole grain is one with all these components except the husk, if the grain no longer has the bran or germ there will be a loss of nutrients.

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A mixture of various grains and seeds, including barley, rice, and possibly wheat, spread on a white surface.

Harvest Videos

A cube-shaped sunflower seed and nut energy bite on a wooden surface with yellow sunflower blooms in the background.

Harvest Photos

Close-up of wheat stalks with a ladybug on one stalk, against a blue sky backdrop.
Close-up of numerous wheat grains with a tan color, oval shape, and pointed tips.
Close-up of crushed oats on a white surface.